Carding machine



Feb. 3, 1948. M. s. FAIN emma namur:

Filed Jan. 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l F 3, 1948. M. s. FAIN CARDIN@ lucarne Filled Jan. 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR Y ya KM @ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT-FFICE emma insomma: Mitchell 8. Fain, New Haven, Conn. d Application .mmm 2s, 194s. serial No. 643,295

' l This invention relates to carding machines which prepare bres for spinning into yarns and thread. An important object oi the invention isV to provide a machine having improved operating characteristics, which is simpler in construction than conventional machines, which costs less to produce, which occupies only a fraction of the space of conventional cards, and which, by virtue of its fewer parts and other features of construction. requires less servicing than conventional carding machines.

The construction of carding machines has changed very little in the past fifty years. The common multiple unit machine is provided with a plurality of large rolls with the usual worker and stripper rolls. The breaker carding occurs in the iirst unit, after which the carded webis removed by the doiIer, is condensed to a sliver, and is then lapped back and forth by the intermediate feed which is associated with the second unit. Passing through the second unit the stock is similarly carded, the carding being at a right angle to the first card. In the machines of the prior art, each set of cards has usually comprised three main rolls, and in many cases four main rolls are employed. The foregoing procedure is followed in spinning on the woolen system wherein the iibres are rst carded in one direction and are then carded in a second direction. In the worsted system, however, the bres are carded in only one direction. In the worsted system there is no intermediate feed, so all the bres are carded in the same direction.

Machines of this type are expensive to construct and maintain. require a vast amount of oor space, and card a relatively small quantity of stock in a given unit of time.

So far as is known, all machines of the prior art utilize only the upper peripheral surface of the main cai-ding roll, and accordingly it has `been found necessary to employ a plurality of such.

main rolls in order to completely card the stock. One particular improvement of the present invention resides in the provision of a single main roll for both the breaker carding and the finished carding. This roll is of larger diameter than conventional rolls, and a plurality of worker and stripper rolls are disposed both along the lower periphery of such main roll and also along the upper periphery thereof. The breaker carding occurs along the lower periphery, and .the unal carding along the upper periphery. This arrangement may, of course, be reversed.

By forming the main roll of increased diameter, three important advantages are achieved..

half and above the upper half of the main roll,

to complete the entire carding operation on the single roll instead of the three or four main rolls used in conventional machines. The third advantage'of the langer roll resides in the fact that the centrifugal force at the periphery of the main roll is very considerably reduced, which results in a marked reduction in the amount of flyings, and arcorresponding saving in stock since ilyings are waste and are sold as such. Y

Suitable feeding means including a licker-inv are provided for delivering the uncarded stock on the main roll, and adjacent the last worker roll on the lower periphery there are provided fancy and doier rolls, and an intermediate feed which laps the sliver back andiorth.I 'Ifhe partially carded stock is then fed back to the main roll on its upper surface for the iinal carding operation. In the event that the carding is done by the worsted system, the intermediate feed may be removed and the carding action continued entirely around the outer periphery of the single main roll.

' The machine of the present invention is much easier to clean than is the case with conventional machines, and all of the parts, particularly the worker and stripper rolls, are made readily accessible. The machine may be used for carding all iibrous materials, such as wool, cotton, iiax, jute, asbestos, as well as synthetic staple fibres. The

machine also supplies a uniform web of brous material to be used forv felting purposes or in connection with the manufacture of plastic bonded cloth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved feed for cai-ding machines. This improved feed is much simpler than conventional feeds, is less expensive to construct, has

fewer parts, provides a uniform'web along the full working width of the machine, and also provides improved means for mixing diierent grades and different types of iibres to obtain a more homogeneous web.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting the worker and stripper rolls in'carding machines as well as the other rolls auxiliary to the main roll.

Fig. 4 is a broken elevation of the feeding means.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the sliver trough. The first feed unit may comprise a hopper `Ill which may. if desired, be open at the top and be supplied with the uncarded stock inany suitable manner. The trough may be of a length equal substantially to the width of the main roll, and the side walls of such trough converge inwardly, as shown'. Adjacent the lower end of the hopper there is provided a rotating feed vane I, and immediately below the feed vane the side walls of the hopper project outwardly, as shown at l2. Within this lower, enlarged portion there are disposed a plurality of spaced feed rolls I3 having the usual metallic clothing on their outer 'peripheriea The spacing of the feed rolls is such as to cause a slight intermeshing of the clothing. This arrangement is desirable, sinceif the feed rolls were spaced further apart the suction afforded by a suction pump positioned therebeneath Y would be such as to rob stock from the feed rolls.

Below these feed rolls there isA a receptacle I1. Suction pump |4 is connected with the receptacle at the lower end of the hopper, as shown at I5, and connected with this pump is a nexible tube I6 which terminates in a nozzle 20, which latter is suitably arranged in a feed trough 2|. The feed trough may be of a length equal substantially to the width of the main roll. Y

The nozzle is mounted for reciprocatingy movement transversely of the trough 2| by the arrangement shown in Figs. -4 and 5, which may:

comprise a transverse track 22 having adiacent its upper end a dovetail element 23. A travelling block 24 may be provided at its upper endwith a ring 25 which supports the nozzle. Block 24 per rolls 44 are disposed in spaced relation to the main roll along the lower periphery of the latter. The surface speed of the main roll is, of course,

higher than that of the licker-in and of the workv er rolls. The surface speed of the stripper 44 is higher than the surface speed of the worker roll 43, thus removing stock from the latter and feedlng it back to main roll 4| which has a surface speed greater than stripper 44. The spacing between the outer peripheries of the worker and stripper rolls may be substantially alike, or they may vary, depending upon the-particular stock to be carded and other factors. Likewise, the spacing between the pairs of workers and strippers may either be substantially the same or may vary, al1 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In the arrangement shown, there are six pair of workers and strippers in the breaker carding which takes place along the lower periphery of the main roll. This number may also vary, as will be understood. At a point spaced from the last worker roll, fancy roll 45 is journalled, the outer periphery of such roll having the Yusual fancy clothing. The wires of the fancy are set oppositely from those of the main roll, and surface speed of the fancy may be considerably higher lthan the surface speed of the main roll.

is formed with an opening 26 which is shaped Y complementary to dovetail portion 23, and roller bearing means 30 may be provided to reduce friction during transverse travel of block 24. Block 24, together with nozzle 20, is caused to reciprocate transversely of the main roll by means of an endless roller chain 3|, one of the lengths of which carries a pin 32 which is positioned within a vertical slot 35 in block 24. It will thus be apparent that as the chain, which is suitably supported at each end thereof by sprockets 31, is

continuously driven, the supporting block andthe nozzle 26 will be moving at a substantially uniform rate transversely of the main roll. f

Adjacent the forward edge of the trough 2| are a plurality of feed-in rolls 36. such rolls carrying on their outer surfaces metallic clothing, and the spacing-should be such as to cause'a slight intermeshing rof the clothing. It will be noted that the forward end of nozzle 20 is spaced from feed-in rollsy 36, and accordingly there is a reservoir of stock within this area. The stock is thus fed with substantial uniformity to licker-in roll 40 which conveys the stock to main roll 4|, the outer sury face of which is Vprovided with the usual card clothing 42.

The stock is thus lifted from the wires in a position to be removed from the main roll by means of doffer roll 46, the surface speed of which is relatively slow compared to the surface speed of the main roll. The carded stock is removed from the doffer by means of comb 5,0 and is disposed in trough 5|, a top plan view of which is shown in Fig. 6. The carded stock isdelivered as a sliver to throat 52 of trough 5|, and thence into tube 53 which is connected with flexible tube 54 having nozzle 55 at its upper end.

A blower 56 delivers air up through tube 54, thus causing travel of the sliver through the nozzle and into intermediate trough 60. Nozzle 55 may have a support similar to nozzle 26 shown in Fig. 4, and thus reciprocates transversely of the main roll and builds up a reservoir ofthe carded stock in the area between the forward edge of nozzle '55 and feed-in rolls 6|. This operation causes a lapping back and forth of the sliver, and thus delivers the sliver, the fibres of which have been carded in one direction, namely, parallel withthe sides of the sliver, to intermediate lickerin 62, which delivers the stock to main rol1.4| wherein the nbres are carded at right angles to the original carding path. A plurality of units of worker and stripper rolls 63 and 64, respectively, are disposed transversely of the main roll above the upper periphery thereof wherein the carding action takes place in substantially the samefashion as it did along the lower periphery thereof.

In the preferred arrangement, `a larger number of worker and stripper rolls are disposed above the-main roll for the finish carding operation, for

the reason that there is a different setting of Vsuch worker and stripper rolls. In other' words,

thus removed from the doffer by comb 61,

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the machine includes spaced frameelements 1| which may be secured to the oor by means of floor fittings 12. There is further provided an upper frame structure 13 which is cut away, as

- shown at 14. Transverse shaft 15 which supports main roll 4| is journalled 1n bearing 16 carried by frame element 1|. Shaft 15 carries a pulley/11 keyed thereto, such pulley being driven by a belt or other equivalent means 80 which also extends around pulley 8| associated with motor drive 82.

In Fig. 2 there is shown the preferred means for mounting the worker rolls, and asimilar arrangement is provided for the stripper rolls. Arms 83 are carried on upper frame member 13 as well as lower frame member H in the following manner. Machine bolts 84, which are threaded as shown at 85, pass through openings 86 in arm 83, such openings being of somewhat greater diameter than the diameter of the bolt. These bolts pass into threaded openings 90 in frame 13. Secured to frame 13 is a plate 9| having ille teeth or knurls 92, and a similar plate 93 is secured to arm 83.' It will be seen from the foregoing that adlustment within reasonable limits of arm 83 radially of shaft 15 may be eilected.

Arm 83 at its outer end may have a slot 94 of greater width than the diameter of shaft 95 which carries Worker rolls 43 and 63. This slot may extend inwardly from the edge of the arm. A bearing bushing 96 is secured at the outer end of arm 83 by means of bolts 91. These bolts are provided with shoulders 98 and with threaded terminals 99. The shoulder 98 passes through aligned openings in the arm and in the bearing, and the tting is a precision one so as to eiect accurate mounting of the bearing relative to the arm. When it is desired to remove one of the worker rolls, it is only necessary to remove bolts 91 and lift shafts 95 from slots 94. These rolls can thereafter be replaced with the exact setting which they previously occupied.

Shaft 95 may have a hub |03 at its inner end which is force-fitted or otherwise secured in worker roll 43 which is provided with the usual clothing |04 on its outer surface. All the worker rolls are driven by suitable means, such as a belt |05 which engages pulleys |06 and is itself driven by pulley |01 carried on main roll shaft 15; Similar mounting arrangement may be employed for stripper rolls 44 and 64, and these may b'e driven by a similar drive which is positioned on the'side of the machine opposite from that shown in Fig. 1. Doier rolls 46 and 66 may be driven by belt ||0 engaging pulleys with any suitable drive th'erefor such as a pulley on the main roll.

Feeding means other than that shown may be employed in connection with the main roll, and it will also be appreciated that the novel feed has general utility apart from the present machine.

The arrangement of the clothing on the several rolls is suggestive only 'and may, of course, be altered to suit varying carding conditions. For instance, the position of the wires on the clothing of the worker rolls may be reversed, and the direction of rotation similarly reversed. This may be done on all or only a part of the worker rolls. Also, the card clothing may be replaced with Garnett clothing, all as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to a speciilc application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is' limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A carding machine comprising a'main roll,

a plurality of units of worker and stripper rolls along the lower periphery oi' the main roll forone carding operation, and a plurality of Y units of worker and stripper rolls along the upper Periphery of the main roll for another carding operation, a iirst i'eed, means for removing partially carded stock from the main roll after the rst 2. A carding machine comprising a main roll. 4a plurality of carding sections which extend around substantially the entire periphery'of the main roll, each carding section being arranged for a separate carding operation, each carding section including a plurality oi units of worker and stripper rolls disposed in spaced relation to the main roll, a flrst feed adjacent the beginning of the ilrst carding section for delivering the stock to the main roll for carding .the fibres in a direction generally perpendicular to the vaxis of the main roll, means for removing partially carded stock from the main roll adjacent the end of the first. cardingsection, an intermediat feed for returning the partially carded stock to the main roll adjacent the,beginning of a succeeding carding section with the bres of the stock disposed generally parallel with such axis, and means for removing the stock after the second carding operation.

3. A carding machine comprising a main roll, a plurality of units of worker and stripper rolls disposed in spaced relation along the lower pe-` riphery oi the main roll for one carding operation, and a plurality of umts of worker and stripper rolls in spaced relation along the upper periphery of the main roll for another carding opl eration, a rst feed, means comprising fancy and doiler rolls for removing partially carded stock from the main roll after the rst carding operation, an intermediate feed for returning the partially cardedstock ,to the main roll, and means for removing the nished carded material after the final carding operation.

comprising fancy and doier rolls for removingthe partially carded stock at the end of the ilrst section, an intermediate feed for delivering the partially carded stock for carding in the second carding section in a lsecond direction from the first carding operation, and fancy and doiIer rolls for removing the nished carded material after the second carding operation.

5. In the art of carding on a carding machine provided with a main roll and a plurality of units of worker and stripper rolls disposed around substantially the entire outerperiphery of the main roll, the method which consistsv in feeding the uncarded stock to the main roll and cardingto bres in one direction which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the main roll, removing the partially carded stock from the main roll at a point substantially from the point of initial 7 feed. then re-feeding the partially carded stock to the main roll at a point adjacent to but spaced Number from the point oi'such removal with the bres 733,383 thereof being disposed generally parallel with such axis for a second-carding operation, and 5 then removing the carded material from the main Number roll at a. point adjacent the first feed. 1,577 e MITCHELL S. FAIN. 1,993 9,854 REFERENCES CITED .w 10.586. The following references are of record in the 24,258

le oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gahagan July 14, 1903 FOREIGN PATENTS country Date Great Britain 1857 Great Britain 1866 Great Britain 1843 Great Britain 1914 Great B ritain 1914 Great Britain 1923 

